Adjustable string tie diaper



Aug. 6, 1957 Filed Nov. 16. 1953 M. K. BURNER ETAL ADJUSTABLE STRING TIE DIAPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug 6, 1957 M. K. BURNER ETAL 2,801,632

ADJUSTABLE STRING TIE DIAPE Filed NOV. 16,A 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,801,632 Patented Aug.` 6, 1957 t 2,801,632 Kp ADJUSTABLE STRING TIE DIAPER Mary K. Burner and Frank P. Ritchie, Summit, lli.

Application November 16, 1953, Serial No."392,262 7 Claims. (ci. 12S- 284) The present invention relates to string tie baby diapers. The inconvenience and dangers associated with the fastening of baby diapers with safety pins have inspired the .designing of diapers adapted to the use of string ties. However, `prior to the present inventionstring tie diapers have `been marked by disadvantages that have greatly Y reduced their practical utility. Fastening of such diapers around an infant has been a tedious procedure usually requiringtmultiple ties. Moreover, the provision `for adjusting the diapers in size asthe child grows larger has not been fully adequate.

`One object of the invention is to provide improved string tie diapers which can be readily adjusted in both crotch size and waistsize and `.fastened neatly around an infant by a single pair of string` .ties on each side of the diaper. A speciiic object is "to provide a string tie diaper of this character` which can` be neatly adjusted in waist size by an evenly distributed puckering of the `diaper material. t t Another object is to provide improved diapers of the character recited which are very simple and economical in construction. t i Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the `following description of `the forms ofthe invention shownin the drawings, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a perspective Aview of an infant wearing a diaper embodying one form of the invention; j j

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the .rear aspect of the diaper as worn in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the unfolded diaper;

Fig. 4 isa plan view of the diaper shortened by a crotch-adjusting fold;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the back side of the tie end of the diaper;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 `is a perspective view showing an infant wearing a diaper embodying a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the rear aspect of the diaper as worn in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the unfolded diaper of Figs. 7 and 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the modied diaper shortened by a crotchaadjusting fold;

Fig. `ll is a fragmentary view similar to the upper portion of Fig. l0 but showing the string ties shifted to adjust the` eifective waist size of the diaper; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12--12 of Fig. 9.

The diaper forming the first embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. l to 6, comprises a simple rectangular sheet of cloth 10 formed inthis instance by three plies of fabric 12 stitched together along opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet. Designed to be fastened around the infant by only asingle pair of string ties on each side, the diaper is constructed to provide for ready adjustment in both its effective waist size and crotch size Without complicating the simple procedure for applying the diaper.

`Two pairs of string ties 14, 16 `are mounted at one end of the sheet 10 and spaced apart laterally 'as shown in Figs. 3 to 5. Provision is made for adjusting the lat-v era'l spacing of the ties in lrelation'to the sheet. For this purpose two guide slots 18, 20 running transversely of the sheet are formed by three parallel lines of stitching- 22 through the three plies of fabric 12. Eyeletted openings 24, 26 from one side of the sheet 10 are cut into' the opposite ends of the Vrespective slots 18, 20.

'The ties 14, 16 are ,formed by opposite ends of two strings `2%, 30 threaded through the slots 18, 20 `and extending outwardly through the openings 24, `26. The.

lateral spacing between the two pairs of ties 14, 16 and hence the effective width ofthe sheet 10 between thev ties can be reduced at will by `an even puckering of the sheet material long portions of the strings 28, 30 within the slots 18, 20. j t

`Twoseries of longitudinally spaced crotch adjusting eyeletted apertures 32, 34 worked into the opposite mar ginal side edges ofthe sheet r11), extend from the medial.

portion of the sheet away from the string ties 14,` 16. Corresponding apertures on` opposite sidesof the sheet are transversely aligned with eachother.

The diaper may :be applied by placing the tie end of the `sheet 10 on the backside of an infant with the ties 14, 16 disposed on the `outside at waist level. The opposite end of the sheet 10 is turned up across the childs abdomen, the medial portion of the sheet running between the childs legs, as shown in Fig.. 1. The crotch space of the diaper thus formedis determined by the effective length of the sheet 10. i

This length can be varied simply by appropriately folding thesheet transversely in the region of the crotch adjusting apertures 32, .34 (see Fig. 4). The size of the overlapped portion,36, which is greatest for a newborn infant, is reduced to give increased crotch space as` the ychild grows larger.

Ordinarily thejcrotch adjusting fold 36 is `made along a transverse `line running medially between adjacent sets atleast? two of these apertures into alignment with each other `at each side when the fold is completed.

When the diaper, shortened by the length of the folded `over portion 36, is placed around a child, its opposite'side edges at the fold line overlap opposite marginal edges ofthe Vtie end of the sheet as shown in Fig. 2. These overlapping corners at each side of the diaper are neatly fastened together by the two `pairs of ties 14, 16, one string of each pair of ties being inserted through t'he aligned crotch adjusting apertures adjacent the fold lne.

`Bunching of the overlapping corners thus tied together is `avoided by "locating the openings 26 at the ends of the slot 20 somewhat inwardly of the adjacent openings 24 fat the ends of the other slot 18. This provides for a. lateral spacing of the two ties of each pair approximately equal to the spacing of the crotch adjusting apertures 32, 34 from the adjacent edges of the sheet lil. The string ties extending from the outermost slot openings 24 are inserted through the aligned crotch adjusting apertures and tied with the strings protruding from the inner slot openings 26.

The waist size of the `diaper is automatically adjusted at the time the diaper is applied by an. even puckering of the sheet material along the strings between the pairs of ties 14, 16, as shown in Fig. 2.

"The diaper thus formed has a strikingly simple, economical construetion. Requiring only a single pair of ties on each side it can be applied to an infant with greater ease than the conventional safety pin type diaper.

Moreover, the adjustment of the diaper both for length and waist size is Aachieved without complicating the very simple procedure for applying the diaper,

The diaper embodying the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to l2 isgenerallysimilar in construction to the previously described diaper shown in Figs. l to 6. Structural elements, common to both forms of the invention are designated with the same reference numerals with the addition of the subscript `a in Figs. 7 to l2.

'The major structural modification made in this second form of the invention relates to the laterally adjustable mounting of the two pairs of ties 14a16a, relative to each other. As shown in Figs. 9 to ll, the two pairs of ties 14a, 16a, are formed by two strings 40, 42, mounted respectively in two series of waist adjusting eyeletted openings 44, 46 formed in the marginal end edge of the sheet 10a remote from the length-adjusting apertures 32a, 34a and extending inwardly from opposite s ides ofthe sheet.

- For use on a newborn infant, the strings 40, 42, are inserted through the two innermost openings of the respective series 44, 46 so that both ends protrude beyond the outer side of the sheet. This arrangement provides for a lateral spacing of the two strings of each pair of ties thus avoiding puckering of the overlapping side edges of the diaper when it is fastened in place as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

As the child grows larger, the two tie strings 40, 42 are shifted into other openings of the two series 44, 46 to provide a wider spacing between the ties as shown in Fig. 1l, thus increasing the effective waist size of the diaper. The diaper thus modified may be applied with virtually the same ease as the diaper embodying the first form of the invention. when applied is made in the same manner as described in connection with the first embodiment of the invention.

Y While we have shown and described preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be apparent that variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and scope of the invention. We therefore desire, by the following claims, to include all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of our invention may be obtained through the use of substantially thesame or equivalent means.

Weclaim:

l. An adjustable string tie diaper comprising, in combination, an elongated sheet of cloth, the two marginal side edges ofsaid sheet each having formed therein a series of substantially evenly spaced crotch adjusting apertures extending longitudinally along the sheet'from the medial portion thereof, corresponding apertures of said series being transversely aligned with each other, said sheet being foldable transversely in the region of said crotch adjusting apertures to vary the effective length of the sheet, a pair of laterally spaced string ties mounted adjacent each edge of the sheet near the end of said sheet more remote from said crotch adjusting apertures, the ties in each of said pairs being spaced laterally from each other, means for adjusting the lateral spacing between said pairs of ties to vary the effective waist size of the diaper, said sheet shortened by a transverse fold therein being foldable around the lower end of an infant, the crotch space of the diaper being determined by the degree to which the sheet is shortened by the first fold, and the outermost tie of each pair being insertable through the adjacent crotch adjusting openings at the folded end of said sheet to tie opposite ends of each side edge of the sheet in neatly overlapping relation to each other.

2. An adjustable string tie diaper comprising, in combination,' an elongated sheet of cloth, the two marginal side edges of said sheet each having formed therein a series of crotch adjusting apertures extending longitudinally therealong from the medial portion of the sheet, said sheet being foldable transversely in the region of said Adjustment of the length of the diaper 1 apertures to vary the effective length thereof, a pair of string ties mounted adjacent each edge near the end of said sheet more remote from said crotch adjusting apertures and spaced laterally from each other, means for adjusting the lateral spacing betwen said pairs of ties to vary the effective waist size of the diaper, said sheet shortened by a transverse fold therein being foldable around the lower end of an infant, the crotch space of the diaper being determined by the degree to which the sheet is shortened by the first fold, and said ties being insertable through the adjacent crotch adjusting apertures at the folded end of said sheet to tie opposite ends of each side edge of the sheet in neatly overlapping relation to each other.

3. An adjustable string tie diaper comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular sheet of cloth, the opposite marginal side edges of said sheet having formed therein two series of transversely aligned crotch adjusting apertures spaced longitudinally along said sheet from the medial portion thereof, said sheet being foldable transversely in the region of said apertures to vary the effective length of the sheet, the marginal edge of said sheet at the end thereof remote from said apertures having formed therein two series of waist adjusting openings eX- tending inwardly from opposite sides of the sheet, two string ties insertable into any two openings of said respective series the openings being selected to provide the desired waist size of the diaper, the sheet shortened by a crotch adjusting fold therein being foldable around the lower end of an infant, -and said string ties being insertable through adjacent aligned apertures at4 the folded end of said sheet to tie opposite' ends of the respective side edges of the diaper in neatly overlapping relation to each other.

4. An adjustable 'string tie diaper comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular sheet of fabric, means on one end of said sheet forming two slots extending transversely thereacross, meansforming openings from one face of said diaper into opposite ends of each slot, two string ties threaded through said respective slots and eX- tending outwardly beyond said openings at opposite ends thereof, the marginal side edges of said sheet each having formed therein a series of regularly spaced crotch adjustingfa'pertures beginning la very substantial distance from the slottedend of said sheet, said sheet being foldable transversely with the fold line nearer the end thereof opposite from said slots, the fold being variable in position to adjustthe Veffective length of said sheet and hence the crotch size of the diaper, and the diaper thus shortened being foldable around the lower end of an infant to provide a neatly fitting diaper that can be fastened in place Vby inserting said ties through adjacent crotch adjusting apertures in said sheet at the folded end thereof, a neat adjustment of the waist size of the diaper being effected by an evenly distributed puckering of the diaper material at the slotted end of said sheet.

l5. An adjustable string tie diaper comprising, in cornblnation, an elongated sheet of fabric, a pair of transverse slots stitched intoone end of said sheet, means forming openings from one face of the diaper into opposite ends of each slot, the openings atthe ends of one of said slots being closer together than the openings at the ends of the other slot, two string ties threaded through said respective slots and extending outwardly through said openings at opposite ends thereof, the marginal side edges of said sheet each having formed therein a series of regularly spaced crotch adjusting apertures disposed generally in the medial and end portion of said sheet opposite from said slots, said sheet being foldable transversely in the region of said apertures to shorten the effective length of said sheet by a variable degree determined by the vposition of the fold, said sheet thus shortened being foldable around the lower end of an infant providing adjustable crotch space determined by the effectivelength of said sheet,V and said ties being insertable into adjacent ones of said apertures at the folded end of said sheet to neatly secure said diaper in place, the elfective Waist size of the diaper being adjusted by an evenly distributed puckering of said sheet material along said string tie slots.

6. An adjustable string tie diaper comprising, in combination, an elongated sheet of fabric, transverse guide slot means on one end of said sheet, string tie means threaded through said guide slot means and projecting beyond opposite ends thereof, the marginal side edges of said sheet each having formed therein a series of crotch adjusting apertures spaced longitudinally therealong from the medial portion thereof, said sheet being foldable transversely in the region of said apertures, the fold being variable in position to adjust the effective length of said sheet and hence the crotch size of the diaper, and the diaper thus shortened being foldable around the lower end of an infant to provide a neatly tting diaper, and said string ties being insertable through adjacent crotch adjusting apertures in said sheet at the folded end therein.

7. An adjustable string tie diaper comprising an elongated sheet of fabric, a pair of tie string free portions eX- tending away from one face of said sheet adjacent one end thereof, with one of the string free portions in said pair being `attached closer to the adjacent side edge of said sheet thanthe other string free portion, a second pair of substantially identical tie string free portions extending away from said face adjacent said sheet end, said second pair of tie string free portions being attached toward the opposite side edge of said sheet with one of said second pair being close Ito the adjacent edge than the other, said sheet being formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures positioned inwardly of each side edge of said sheet with each of the apertures adjacent one of said side edges being positioned substantialiy transversely of the sheet from one of the apertures adjacent the opposite side edge thereof, said sheet being foldable transversely in the region of said apertures to adjust the effective length of said sheet, the sheet thus adjusted as to length being applicable to an infant to provide a neatly titting diaper, and one of said tie string free portions in each of said pairs being insertable through adjacent apertures in said sheet in a position to be tied to the other tie string free portion in the same pair.

No references cited. 

